| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |
Friendship
Influence of Friends
A farmer
troubled by a
flock of crows in his corn field
loaded his shotgun and crawled unseen along
the fence-row
determined to get a shot at the crows. Now the farmer had a very
“sociable” parrot who mad friends with everybody. Seeing the flock of crows
the parrot flew over and joined them (just being sociable
you know). The
farmer saw the crows but didn’t see the parrot. He took careful aim and BANG!
The farmer crawled over the fence to pick up the fallen crows
and lo
there
was his parrot—badly ruffled
with a broken wing
but still alive. Tenderly
the farmer carried the parrot home
where his children met him. Seeing that
their pet was injured
they tearfully asked
“What happened
papa?” Before he
could answer
the parrot spoke up: “Bad company!” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Friendship
A new homeowner’s riding
lawn mower had broken down
and he had been working fruitlessly for two hours
trying to get it back together. Suddenly
one of his neighbors appeared with a
handful of tools. “Can I give some help?” he asked. In twenty minutes he had
the mower functioning beautifully.
“Thanks a million
” the
now-happy newcomer said
“And say
what do you make with such fine tools?”
“Mostly friends
” the
neighbor smiled. “I’m available any time.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
False friendship
It is easy to test people
as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves. As a gregarious man once
boasted
“I have friends I haven’t even used yet.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
False Friendship
A false friend is like your
shadow. As long as there is sunshine
he sticks close by. But the minute you
step in the shade
he disappears. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
True Friendship
A friend has been defined
as the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out. ── Michael
P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
True Friendship
Value a friend who
for
you
finds time on his calendar—but cherish the friend who
for you
does not
even consult his calendar. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
True Friendship
”Oh
the comfort
the
inexpressible comfort
of feeling safe with a person
having neither to weigh
thoughts nor measure words
but to pour them all out just as they are
chaff
and grain together
knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them
keep
what is worth keeping
and then
with the breath of kindness blow the rest
away.”— George Eliot
A person whom we know well
enough to borrow from
but not well enough to lend to. ── Ambrose Bierce.
The difference between a
friend and an acquaintance is that a friend helps; an acquaintance merely
advises. ── "Calgary Bob"
Edwards.
What is a friend? Friends
are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them.
They ask you to put on nothing
only to be what you are. They do not want you
to be better or worse. When you are with them
you feel as a prisoner feels who
has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what
you think
as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those
contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you
breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and
vicious sparks
your meannesses and absurdities
and in opening them up to
friends
they are lost
dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They
understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them
neglect them
tolerate them. Best of all
you can keep still with them. It makes no matter.
They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You
can weep with them
sing with them
laugh with them
pray with them. Through it
all--and underneath--they see
know
and love you. A friend? What is a friend?
Just one
I repeat
with whom you dare to be yourself.
C. Raymond Beran
in Bits
& Pieces
September 19
1991
p. 3-4.
Nothing in the world is
friendlier than a wet dog.
Dan Bennett
Bits &
Pieces
April 28
1994
p. 5.
By friendship you mean the
greatest love
the greatest usefulness
the most open communication
the
noblest sufferings
the severest truth
the heartiest counsel
and the greatest
union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.
Jeremy Taylor.
Berlin -- Jesse Owens
seemed sure to win the long jump at the 1936 games. The year before he had
jumped 26 feet
8 1/4 inches -- a record that would stand for 25 years. As he
walked to the long-jump pit
however
Owens saw a tall
blue eyed
blond German
taking practice jumps in the 26-foot range. Owens felt nervous. He was acutely
aware of the Nazis' desire to prove "Aryan superiority
" especially
over blacks. At this point
the tall German introduced himself as Luz Long.
"You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed!" he said to
Owens
referring to his two jumps. For the next few moments the black son of a
sharecropper and the white model of Nazi manhood chatted. Then Long made a
suggestion. Since the qualifying distance was only 23 feet
5 1/2 inches
why
not make a mark several inches before the takeoff board and jump from there
just to play it safe? Owens did and qualified easily. In the finals Owens set
an Olympic record and earned the second of four golds. The first person to
congratulate him was Luz Long -- in full view of Adolf Hitler. Owens never
again saw Long
who was killed in World War II. "You could melt down all
the medals and cups I have
" Owens later wrote
"and they wouldn't be
a platting on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Luz Long."
David Wallechinsky in The
Complete Book of the Olympics.
When Jan Paderewski was to
leave his native Poland to play his first recital in London
he asked an
influential compatriot to give him a letter of introduction to a leading figure
in Britain's musical world
who might be of assistance should anything go
amiss. The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope. He hoped that
everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use it.
He did not; his debut was
a success and no snags develped. Some years later
while going through his
papers
he came upon the letter and opened it. It read: "This will
introduce Jan Paderewski
who plays the piano
for which he demonstrates no
conspicuous talent."
Bits & Pieces
January 9
1992
p. 1 & 2.
A British publication once
offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of
answers received were the following:
"One who multiplies joys
divides grief
and whose honesty is
inviolable."
"One who understands our silence."
"A volume of sympathy bound in cloth."
"A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down."
The winning definition read: "A friend is the one who comes in when the
whole world has gone out."
Bits & Pieces
July
1991.
Another source gives this
version and source:
A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world goes out.
Henry Durbanville.
During his days as
president
Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the
country on horseback. They came to a river which had left its banks because of
a recent downpour. The swollen river had washed the bridge away. Each rider was
forced to ford the river on horseback
fighting for his life against the rapid
currents. The very real possibility of death threatened each rider
which
caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch.
After several had plunged in and made it to the other side
the stranger asked
President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river. The president
agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on
and shortly thereafter the two
of them made it safely to the other side. As the stranger slid off the back of
the saddle onto dry ground
one in the group asked him
"Tell me
why did
you select the president to ask this favor of?" The man was shocked
admitting
he had no idea it was the president who had helped him. "All I know
"
he said
"Is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No
' and
on some of them was the answer 'yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."
C. Swindol
The Grace
Awakening
Word
1990
p. 6.
Jackie Robinson was the
first black to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball's color barrier
he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home
stadium in Brooklyn
he committed an error. The fans began to ridicule him. He
stood at second base
humiliated
while the fans jeered. Then
shortstop Pee
Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie
Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm
around his shoulder saved his career.
Leadership.
Same story different
version: One example of friendship remains with me as vividly as the
moment I first heard of it as a boy. In his first seasons with the Brooklyn
Dodgers
Jackie Robinson
the first black man to play Major League baseball
faced venom nearly everywhere he traveled--fastballs at his head
spikings on
the bases
brutal epithets from the opposing dugouts and from the crowds.
During one game in Boston
the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak. In
the midst of this
another Dodger
a Southern white named Pee Wee Reese
called
timeout. He walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second
base
put his arm around Robinson's shoulder
and stood there with him for what
seemed like a long time. The gesture spoke more eloquently than the words: This
man is my friend.
Willie Morris in Parade.
I would rather have
speeches that are true than those which contain merely nice distinctions. Just
as I would rather have friends who are wise than merely those who are handsome.
Augustine
quoted by
Richard Baxter in The Reformed Pastor.
"A friend is one who
warns you."
Old Jewish proverb.
Some people make enemies
instead of friends because it is less trouble.
E.C. McKenzie.
Friendship is born at that
moment when one person says to another
"What! You
too? I thought I was
the only one."
C.S. Lewis.
Friends are like good
health; you don't realize what a gift they are until you lose them.
Unknown.
Prosperity begets friends
adversity proves them.
Unknown.
A friend is a person who
does his knocking before he enters instead of after he leaves.
Unknown.
He who loves 50 has 50
woes. He who loves 10 has 10 woes. He who loves none has no woes.
Buddah.
A small boy defined a
friend as "Someone who knows all about you and likes you just the
same."
Unknown.
Our opinion of people
depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in
ourselves.
Sarah Grand.
Be slow in choosing a
friend
slower in changing.
B. Franklin.
Friendship is a single
soul dwelling in two bodies.
Aristotle.
1. When you are with
people
be aware of their likes and dislikes.
2. Remember friend's birthdays and anniversaries.
3. Take interest in and cultivate relationships with your friend's children.
4. Become need sensitive
5. Keep in touch by phone.
6. Express what you like about your relationship with another person.
7. Serve your friends in thoughtful
unexpected ways.
Common Ground
January
1990.
Oh
the comfort
the
inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person
having neither to weigh
thoughts
nor measure words
but to pour them all out just as they are
chaff
and grain together knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them
keep
what is worth keeping
and then
with the breath of kindness blow the rest
away.
George Eliot
quoted in Today
in the Word
July
1989
p. 28.
In our dealings with those
caught in sexual lust
mercy is incomplete unless we do as Jesus did; call it
sin. We have winked
giggled
made alibis
or ignored sin all too long. A
friend in deed is one who says quietly
but firmly
"What you're doing
friend is sin. It is harmful to you and to others. It is destructive to God's
dream for you.
Unknown.
Leonard Syme
a professor
of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley
indicates the
importance of social ties and social support systems in relationship to
mortality and disease rates. He points to Japan as being number one in the
world with respect to health and then discusses the close social
cultural
and
traditional ties in that country as the reason. He believes that the more
social ties
the better the health and the lower the death rate. Conversely
he
indicates that the more isolated the person
the poorer the health and the
higher the death rate. Social ties are good preventative medicine for physical
problems and for mental-emotional-behavior problems.
Martin & Diedre
Bobgan
How To Counsel From Scripture
Moody Press
1985
p. 18.
In a survey of more than
40
000 Americans said these qualities were most valued in a friend: 1. The
ability to keep confidences 2. Loyalty 3. Warmth and affection.
Psychology Today
quoted in Homemade
June
1982.
Around the corner I have a
friend
In this great city that has no end.
Yet days go by and weeks rush on
And before I know it a year is gone
And I never see my old friend's face;
For life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well
As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine. We were younger then--
And now we are busy
tired men--
Tired with playing a foolish game;
Tired with trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow
" I say
"I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes--and tomorrow goes;
And the distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner!--yet miles away...
"Here's a telegram
sir."
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get--and deserve in the end--
Around the corner
a vanished friend.
Around The Corner
by Henson
Towne.
Two men were out hunting
in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a
grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes
and his friend anxiously asked
"What are you doing? Don't you know you
can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I
just have to outrun you!"
Unknown.
Once I told my old man
'Nobody likes me.' He said
'Don't say that--everybody hasn't met you yet.'
Rodney Dangerfield
I
Don't Get No Respect.